If you just finished writing a book and feel ready to publish it in the world for all to see, how will you do it?

How do you know which method is suitable for you, from the old standby of using a typesetting company to the new route of self-publishing?

When publishing a book, many authors often wonder how they should typeset the book. Authors can choose from different types of typesetting tools to help them how to typeset a book. Authors can often typeset their books on their own if they have the proper knowledge and typesetting software.

If you are self-publishing, there are many aspects of the layout of your book that can be difficult to navigate. It is worth hiring professional typesetting companies for more complex design work.

This post will teach you everything you need to know about book typesetting. Whether you are planning on using a professional company or on doing it yourself, this guide will help you

What is Typesetting in Publishing?

Typesetting is the process of arranging and formatting typeset material for the final printed product or e-book. The typesetting process can include making text look more aesthetically pleasing by changing fonts, choosing proper spacing, and hyphenation.

Typesetters are in charge of determining margin size, typefaces, chapter styles, large section breaks, where figures go, and so on. It appears to be simple. It’s all about making words appear neat on the page, isn’t it? Microsoft Word does that for you automatically. What’s the big deal?

It’s not as simple as it seems. The typesetting process affects your book’s appearance and legibility. It can also affect how accessible content is to readers with disabilities or physical challenges that prevent them from turning a page or holding a book.

Therefore, it’s essential to make a wise book formatting decision.

Signs of Good and Bad Typesetting

Good typesetting maintains the author’s voice and enhances how easy it is for readers to absorb its intended message. Bad typesetting does the opposite. It can make an amazing, well-written book difficult to read or unreadable.

good typesetting vs bad typesetting

A typesetter may come to your aid to typeset your book, or you may typeset it on your own. Either way, here are some signs of good typesetting and bad typesetting.

Good typesetting

  • The pages look neat and clean.
  • Page feels compact when viewed.
  • Sentences and paragraphs flow nicely from one another.

Bad typesetting

  • Fonts are hard to read.
  • Lines are broken in a way that interrupts the flow of the author’s message.
  • Paragraph spacing is inconsistent.
  • Page seems flimsy or breaks easily.

DIY Typesetting vs. Professional Typesetting

There are two options for publishing your book: do it yourself or hire someone more talented to take care of the process.

DIY Typesetting

For those familiar with book layout software, the DIY typesetting route is your best bet.

Top 5 Rules for typesetting your book:

  • RULE #1. Paragraph alignment

    There are two different alignments for paragraphs called “justified” and “ragged right.” Justified is more appropriate for longer books, while ragged right should only be used for shorter books due to the difficulty of reading it.

  • RULE #2. Margins

    Margins are necessary in typesetting. Margins serve to separate blocks of typeset text, provide space for the book’s binding, and give you room to write your name or title on it.

  • RULE #3. Spacing

    Spacing between lines is called “line spacing”, and it helps make the typeset text easier to read. The standard line spacing for typesetting a book is 1.5 or double-spaced, but this varies from genre to genre, so check what types of books similar to yours use for typesetting rules.

  • RULE #4. Font types

    When typesetting, the typesetter should use two different fonts to make it more exciting and easier to read. One font should be used for the body text (the majority of your book), while another font should be used for headings (chapter titles, section breaks).

  • RULE #5. Trim Size

    Trim size refers to the height and width of a typeset book. Most typesetters use 5″ x 8″ as their standard trim size, but 6″ x 9″ is very popular in specific genres such as romance or thrillers.

Typesetting software

Here are some of the software that you can use to typeset your book, depending on your requirements

  • Adobe Indesign
  • Vellum
  • Ddraft2Digital
  • Bookwright by Blurb

Professional Typesetting

The typesetting process can be highly overwhelming to those who do not know how to typeset. If you struggle with typesetting yourself, seek out for reputed typesetting services professionals to help you type your book.

Benefits:

  • Typesetters have the experience and knowledge necessary to typeset your book correctly
  • Book layout design can be a time-consuming process; typesetters can typeset your book more efficiently.
  • It will save you the trouble of learning to use typesetting software and its functions.
  • Typesetting is a job that requires attention and dedication. Hiring typesetters guarantees you will receive your typeset book in the most professional way possible.

Though the professional typesetting cost is more than typesetting your book by yourself, the benefits are worth it.

Wrap Up

Publishing a book can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re here to help you and your manuscript get the attention they deserve.

If you’re looking to self-publish your work, it’s essential to understand the different types of publishing and typesetting options. By learning about the process and working with a professional team, you can ensure that your book is published in the most effective way possible.

Let us typeset it for you!

Need typesetting services to help with your manuscript?

Let us typeset it for you!